Case report: an example of international telemedicine success

Abstract

An 8-month old girl presented to the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Riep, Cambodia with fevers, bilateral eye discharge and an extensive body rash. The rash consisted of large, fluid-filled bullae and significant desquamation. The patient was admitted to the hospital and given intravenous cloxacillin for presumed bullous impetigo. Despite treatment with antibiotics, the skin lesions did not improve and the fevers continued. Telemedicine consultations were initiated by email between Angkor Hospital for Children and paediatric specialists in the USA. Several diagnoses were entertained throughout the subsequent collaborative dialogue. Ultimately, teleconsultation led to a diagnosis of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (CBDC), a rare sub-epidermal blistering disease. The child was started on appropriate medications. Within 24 hours, the lesions showed significant improvement and fevers resolved. By enabling advice from distant providers on diagnosis and treatment of paediatric patients, telemedicine may improve health care in developing countries.

Benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum in a 12-year-old boy, diagnosed via telepathology

“…Telemedicine has been used before to enable the correct treatment of patients with rare diseases 13 14. In our case, the diagnosis of the 8th reported case of a BCM in a child was only possible with the help of telepathology, leading to correct clinical handling of the patient in the form of surgical therapy and follow-up for recurrences.…”

Telemedicine: an ICT based healthcare approach to ensure health service for all

“…Other studies have also highlighted this feature of effectiveness and success of telemedicine in resource limited settings and rural areas. [30][31][32] Quality of service and patient satisfaction has been a widely discussed issues over the years. 33 Different scholars have defined the phrase "service quality" in different ways.…”

Recent Advances in Telepathology in the Developing World

“…Furthermore, a case report emanating from Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Riep, Cambodia, illustrated how telepathology enabled advice from distant providers for diagnosis and treatment of a paediatric patients (Froehlich et al, 2009). This is further proof of the extent the practice of telepathology continues to be used to improve healthcare delivery in a developing country.…”